Page 32 of Diavolo

The tension between them was becoming unbearable. Elyse's hand snaked between her legs. She tried to reach for her clit, but he caught her wrists and wrestled both arms behind her back. He held her in place like a prisoner. Then, again, from behind, he began to piston his cock between her thighs, gliding tauntingly against her pussy as he fucked her without actually fucking her. On and on, this steady, deliberate seduction continued. Elyse's need for release overtook her senses. She felt lost and somewhat cheated. She hadn't known true desperation until this very moment.

Suddenly, Alessandro gave one last powerful thrust, groaned, and spilled between her thighs.

"Fuck you," she muttered.

"I would like nothing more," he gasped, "than to fuck you."

The bastard was still panting from his climax. How fucking nice for him.

"From now on," Elyse snapped in resentful tones, "you can't come without me, either."

"But I—"

Stealing a page from his book, she interjected, "Have I made myself clear?"

Smirking, Alessandro echoed her reply from earlier, "Crystal."

He laughed and tried to draw her back into his arms. She resisted him.

"Do not be cross with me," he entreated sweetly, "I promise to play by your rules from now on."

Alessandro placed his hand under her chin and tilted her face toward him. He tried to kiss her on the mouth, but Elyse turned her head away. He implored again, "Let me show you how remorseful I feel."

His head moved toward the apex between her thighs, but she rolled away from him. "There's no need."

He pleaded, "A game is only a game. If this is no longer fun for you, we can find other ways to pass the time."

Suddenly, Elyse didn't know whether she was angrier at him for the orgasm he denied her or his suspicious ties to faceless blonde women.

"You've had a long day," she said coolly.

"I—"

"Get some rest."

Alessandro didn't protest again. Smart man. He sighed. "Buona notte, angelo."

"Good night…sir."

This time, when Elyse addressed Alessandro assir, there had been a bitterness in her tone. She intended to wield this word for dual purposes now. It would be used on her employer like honey and sweets. To gain his favor. Her submission seemed to turn him on, after all.

But it also needed to serve as a reminder. A constant warning to keep her distance. Because none of their games were real. Alessandro's fascination with her wouldn't last. No good would come from getting attached to this man or his dangerous world. From now on, each time the syllable—sir—caressed her tongue, Elyse resolved to harden her emotions. How she felt about Alessandro didn't matter. What he did with other women didn't matter, either. However, keeping him on the hook—captivated enough, at least,to keep her by his side—was paramount to her cause.It was the only thing that mattered.Two more years, Elyse reminded herself, she only needed to stay in this compromising position for two more years. She couldn't let herself fall victim to pettiness or jealousy. Freedom required sacrifice. The light that awaited her at the end of this fucked up tunnel would be more than worth it.

Elyse clung to this belief with all her might until slumber finally pulled her under its spell.

Elyse awoke the next morning in a far better mood. A new strategy had manifested overnight. One that might better serve her sanitywithoutjeopardizing her two-year goal. Frankly, she no longer wished to waste another second stressing over faceless blonde women in sexy red—

Elyse heard the sheets rustle beside her. It was followed by a sigh of contentment. Alessandro had rolled over to her side ofthe bed. His larger frame now spooned her smaller one. His arm was draped comfortably over her hip. His breaths, though, still carried the slow, steady rhythm of a man in deep sleep.

Quietly, Elyse slipped away to make some breakfast. While sipping coffee, she mulled over her next move. Alessandro clearly had no reservations about fucking her, but sex meant nothing without trust. He was still hiding so much shit from her. Unlike Stefano and Mikey, Alessandro wasn't easy to read. Elyse didn't understand why he was willing to be so generous. The bastard had literally plucked her from hell in exchange for a life of leisure and luxury. A healthy man in his prime didn't need a private physician to follow him around Europe. Even if Elyse were to give him the best medical care that money could buy, her conscience couldn't justify the obscene amounts of money he was paying her.

Their arrangement felt ridiculous. Unsustainable. Criminals didn't believe in charity. They were ruthless businessmen who operated on quid pro quo. The other shoe was bound to drop. Elyse didn't know if she was ready to meet the monster behind Alessandro's beautiful mask.

She took another sip of coffee. It seemed necessary to learn Italian.Discreetly, of course.Alessandro often spoke in his native tongue on the phone. In time, she might be able to pick up a few snippets of his conversations. Without knowingwhyAlessandro had gone to such lengths to bring her to Switzerland, she'd be charging into battle like a blind soldier.

To his credit, Alessandro had been treating her like a queen. Elyse was grateful, but the fact remained that the bastard was a walking red flag. He told her to trust him. Yet, Alessandro rarely answered her questions because he was a charming hypocrite who deflected every interrogation like a seasoned lawyer. Allegedly, he cared for her well-being. At the same time, he used Mr. Schmid and Malina to deceive her time andtime again. A king of contradictions. Alessandro claimed that he wasn't looking for a fuck buddy. His shameless advances suggested otherwise. She wasn't opposed to letting him use her body as his private playground. Their chemistry was undeniable, but fucking him wasn't going to help her survive in his world. Elyse needed him to value her on a deeper level. Perhaps, it was time to make herself useful in other ways?

Half an hour later, she heard shuffling sounds from the bedroom. Alessandro soon wandered into the kitchen, shirtless, with only a pair of gray joggers on. Elyse greeted him with a pleasant smile. "Good morning, Mr. Vitale."

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